A total of 3,13,848 posts are currently vacant under different ministries, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told parliament today.

He made the disclosure in reply to a query from Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu, adding that various measures have been taken to fill up the vacant posts.

In reply to a query from AL MP Morshed Alam, Farhad Hossain told parliament that the total number of government employees is 12.17 lakh.

The state minister also informed the House that the public administration ministry in 2019 gave approval to create 88,123 new posts under different ministries and departments

In reply to a query from BNP MP Golam Mohammad Siraj, Farhad Hossain said 290 government officials are currently designated as officers on special duty (OSD) on various grounds, while 177 officials and staffers are working in different ministries and departments on contract basis.

He also said government officials are made OSD for different reasons -- including include promotion, taking part in training or higher education, and personal reasons.

MORE THAN 36 LAKH CASES PENDING AT COURTS: LAW MINISTER

While replying to a query from AL MP Rubina Akhtar, law minister Anisul Huq told parliament that the total backlog of cases in different courts across the country is 36,40,639.

Of the total cases, around 31.27 lakh cases remained pending in lower courts while around 5.13 lakh cases remained pending in higher court.

He also said the government has taken various measures including appointing judges in different courts, and has taken measures to create 886 posts for judges. 

The number of vacant post of judges in different courts of the country is 158, while the number of total post of judges is 1,697, he added.

The law minister also said necessary measures were taken to fill up the vacant posts at the quickest possible time.

Anisul Huq, in reply to a query from Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam, said it is under the government’s active consideration to formulate the attorney service act, in a bid to carry out case-related activities of public prosecutors properly.

In reply to a query from BNP MP Rumeen Farhana, State Minister for Water Resources Minister Zaheed Farooque informed lawmakers that mutual communication between India and Bangladesh continues for holding the next meeting of the Joint River Commission in a convenient time of both countries.